Improvement in piston-packing



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Letters Patent o. 107,243, dated September 13, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN' PISTON-PACKING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part o! the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. FORD, of Ohicago,` in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and usefulv Improvements in Piston Packing for Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to ,which my invention appertains to make and use thc same, reference being had to the accompallying drawing, forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a piston, with the fol- I ower removed to show the arrangement of the packing-rings.

. Figure 2 is a side elevation of a section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the 'pist-on, with the follower in place.

Similar letters of' reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction of piston packing for steam-engines, and to prevent the unequal wear of the packing and the cylinder of the exigirle.

It consists- First, in preventing the unequal wear of the packing-rings and cylinder, by adapting the former for rot-ation upon the piston while in use; and

Secondly, in combining, with said rotary rings, two adjusting screws, arranged at equal distances ou each side ot' the center, and sooperating as Ato'be capable of adjusting the packing while permitting it to rotate upon the'piston.

In the accompanying drawing- A is the piston-head or spider, and

C, the ring surrounding the spider, to form a support for the packing-rings, all cast in one piece, and secured tothe piston-rod D in the usual manner.

It' desired, the ring C may be cast separately from the spider, and attached thereto bysuitable means.

E 'is the follower, secured to the arms F of the spider, by means of screws G, s hown in iig. 3, and ibrming a steam-tight joint with the ring C.

H H are thepacking-rings, cut iu the usual man.-

piston, partiy in ner, and placed around the ring C, between the head and follower.

I is also a cut ring, interposed between the ring C and the packing-rings.

This ring fits the interior of the packing-rings with close contact, while considerable space is permitted between it and the ring C.

J J are adjusting-screws, passing from the interior.y of the piston outward-throughthe ring C.

They are arranged upon the lower side ofthe ring C, in inclined positions,and their-ends bear against the ring I, carrying the packing-rings. I

The pistonis centeredin the cyiinderby'adjusting the 'screws J, the whole weight being borne by the Thepiston is, therefore, prevented from sagging upon therod. v

The space between the rings C and I is sufficientto permit the requisite adjustment as the packingrings become worn.

I am aware that a single screw has been employed for the adjustment ot' the packing-rings, but it is located vertically beneath the center of the piston, and consequently the latter is liable to rock from side to side within the cylinder, turning upon that portion of the packing-rings projected by the point of the screw. A

This liability to rock is increased in the cylinder of a. locomotive engine, and results in the unequal wear of the cylinders.

By the use of two adjusting screws, arranged in accordance with my invention, the piston is forced to travel evenly through the cylinder without the possibility of rocking, and can be balanceldto bear equally upon all sides.

In order to compensate for the unequal wear ofthe packing-rings, and the cylinder, the packing-rings, together with the ring I, are made to travel around the ring C, constantly bearing upon the points of the adjusting screws.

For this purpose, the interior of the'ring I is made perfectly smooth, and the points of the screws slightly rounded or flattened.

The rotary motion is imparted to the packing-rings, and the ring I, by the pressure and friction of the steam, which strikes the 'periphery of the packingrings tangentially.

` This effect is produced by the steam ports in the cylinder being both inclined to one side, so that when the piston, near the completion of each stroke, is directly under the ports the steam from. the steamchest shall impinge against the periphery ofthe rings in the direction ot' the arrow shown in fig. 1.

By this means the packing-rings are constantly turning, and, as a consequence, must wear evenly.

Around the periphery of the packing-rings grooves are cut, as shown at a c, to admit steam. entirely across the faceot the rings, for the purpose of lubrication.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The adjustable piston-packing H, and ring I, adapted for rotation within the horizontal cylinder 'ot' a steam-engine, substantially in` the manner vde'- scribed, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination ofthe adjustable packing H. rotary ring I, flange C, 'separated from the ring by a small space, two screws J J, arranged as described, and piston A'E, when said parts are constructedtand arranged in the manner and for the purposes set fort-h1 j Y WALTER J; FOR-DY Witnesses:

G. H. Fnoscl",' H. F. Enermax. 

